Air mask



Feb. 16, 1932. w, E, wATTERg 1,845,460.

AIR MASK Filed April 1s, 1928 tically keeping its reiterati ret. ia ieee'WILLIAM E. WATTERGS, QF MAYWOOD, llLl-HQXS ME. E

appiication nea apra is, ieee. serial no. ridare.

The invention relates to improvements in air masks and moreparticularlyto masks or shields for use by sand blast operators.

A principal object of the invention is to provide amask having, meansJior automa@ windows clean while in use, to maintain a clear vision forthe operator.

j An object of the invention is tov provide a mask with means forwashing and ltering Y the inlet resh'air.,

An object of the invention is to provide a mask with means :toraccelerating the eX- haiisting of the foul haust port tree fromobstruction, to maintain its full area edective.

' An object of the invention is to provide a mask adapted for use undera hood having a window, with ing said-window clean.

An object ofthe invention is to Aprovide a maskv with yielding means forengaging the face of the sand blaster, painter or other artisan.

An object of the invention is to provide a mask with an air supply linethat will not hamper the free movement of the operator.

The objects of the invention are in general, to arrange the parts insuch combination, as to form an eiiicient air mask adapted to be worn bya sand blast operator, under the usual hood. To provide means associatedwith the mask for maintaining the windows or veyepieces'of both shieldand hood tree from dirt and moisture, so that the vision of the weareris not obstructed, and toprovidemeans for washing the incoming air andaccelerating .the exhausting of the foul air and also to provide meansfor a snug comfortable engagement of the mask with the face, so arrangedthat free unhampered. 4

With the foregoing and such other objects in view` as will appear asthe-description proceeds, the invention resides tion land arrangement of`details of construction hereinafter described arts and the and claimed,it being understood that lchanges in the precisel embodiment hereindescribed may be madewithin the scope of air and keeping the Aer.-y

means on the mask tor keep.

thus formed, is

movement of the'wearer is' in the combinaf what is claimed withoutdeparting romthe spirit of the invention.

ln the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the ima proved mask shown attachedto the :tace oi a 'aa sand blast operator, the hood being indicated inbroken lines.,

Fig. 2 showsa 'iront elevational the mask with the hood removed.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to from the opposite or inside ot the mask.

. Fig. a is an enlarged tragmental vertical central sectional viewof themask and hood. taken along line fir-i of Fig. 2. 'f

Fig. 5 is asectional view throughthe eye e5 pieces or lens of the mask.,taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2. j i

As illustrated in the various iigures oto the drawings, the improvedmask comprises a piece of Hexible ymaterial 11., shaped to cona@ form tothe general contour of a human tace9 having openings adapted to receivetransparent members to form windows 12 and an enlarged nose and mouthpecel arranged to carry an air 19. Secured to the periphery ot themask.,` a cushion 16 which serves as an air seal in addition to aprotector for the aceiof the wearer.

view of Fresh air is supplied to the insideot the eo v against thewindow 32 ofthe hood 31, vusually 90 worn over the mask as furtherprotection.

rlhe inlet conduit 18 is provided with a bypass extending through themask and downwardly between the windows,v which is provided withopenings adjacent to the center of $5 .I

the windows to permit a small stream of air to be ejected upon the innerside of each of the windows to prevent moisture deposits.

Referring now to the drawings, apiece of flexible material 11, strong.light leather b e- 10 Fig. 27 viewed e@ liltering or washing element 3ayer, and is adapted to ing preferable, is formed to conform to thegeneral contour of a face and is provided with a pair of windows 12mounted, in any suitable or approved manner near the upper end thereof.Located on a vertical line running between vthe windows 12, andsuciently distanced below the same, is an opening having secured to itsedge a forwardly andv downwardly extending tubular nose and mouth piece13 made of the same material as the face covering 11. rllhis tubular eX-tension or nose piece 13 has its forward end open and a cover plate orcap 14 securely closes the open end, and a series of annular accordionpleats are provided to permit a limited amount of flexing.

Secured around the edge of the face covering 11 is a sealing ring orcushion 16 which furnishes additional comfort and protection to theforehead, cheeks and chin of the wearbe indated through a valve 17,provided on its lower side.

The mask is held in place over the operators face by adjustable straps33 secured to the mask and arranged to eXte over the head, as shown inFig. 1. V

To admit a plentiful supply of fresh air to the inside -of the mask arigid conduit 18 is secured toits outside, and extendsl downwardlybetween the window members l2. The lower end of this conduit 18 is bentoutwardly at a point just above the mouth piece 12, and has its open endsecured to and communicating with said mouth piece at its extremeforward end. To afford protection to the wearer from the full force ofthe incoming air, throughthe conduit 18, which has normally a pressureof about'20 pounds, a berous-porous substance 19, preferably a sponge isinserted in the forward end of the mounth piece 13. This material 19 ispref lerably saturated with water to wash and insure a properdistribution of the airjpassing therethrough. K

To prevent moisture from accumulatin on the windows 12, an air conduitis provlded in the form of a by-pass 21, which extends from the upper'end of the rigid conduit 18 through the mask downwardly between thewindows 12. The by-pass 21 is provided with v a pair of small ports 22adjacent the central horizontal center line ofthe windows 12. Theseports 22 are so positioned on the cond duit that a stream ofairisdirected laterally and angularly towards each\window, thustheconstant stream of fresh air passing over the surface of the windowprevents moisture or dirt deposit thereon.

The lower end of the into the mouth piece 13 directed into a relativelylarge outlet or exhaust openin 23 provided on the upper side of saidmouth piece. A fine mesh screen 24 (preferably 100 mesh) is mountedover'the by-pas's extends outlet opening 23 to yprevent; unwarranted ndaround and.

. combination,

and its,open end is iterate@ entrance of sand particles or other foreignmatter from the outside. lThis outlet opening is of sucient diameter toexhaust all of thefoul air discharged by the wearer, and its passage outis accelerated bythe air from the by-pass 21.

A piece of flexible tubing 25 is connected to the upper end of the rigidconduit 18 and extends over and downwardly behind the head of the wearerto a belt 26, which is adapted to be adjusted about the waist of theoperator and has a fitting 27 secured thereto, in this instance riveted,to which the tubing 25 is connected while the opposite end of thefitting 27 is adapted to be connected to an air supply tank or pump byflexible tubing 28.

By attaching the flexible tubing 25 to the waist, the wearer is allowedunhampered freedom of movement within the limits of said conduit.

lt is customary to wear a hood 31, of the general combination shown inbroken lines in Fig. 1, over this type of a mask to protect theuncovered parts of the wearers head fronriyin particles of sand, etc.Said hood is provi ed with a plurality of window members 32 and is ofsuliicient length to extend to the shoulders of the wearer. Underordinary working conditions, the windows 32 become covered on .theirinside with sand and moisture. l'l`o prevent this foreign matter fromaccumulating thereon, l propose to direct a spray of fresh air upon saidwindow while the hood is in use in conjunction with the improved mask.

To attain this result a forwardly directed opening 34 is provided on therigid conduit 18, adjacent the lens 12 of the mask. This Opening ispreferably in the form of a horizontally disposed slot to continuouslydirect a horizontal fan shaped spray of fresh air upon the insidesurfaces of the windows 32, thus keepingthem clear. v

From the foregoing description it can readily be appreciated that a maskconstructed in the above manner will afford ample protectain the visionof the wearer clear at all times,

and finally the iniated cushion provided around the edge of the maskinsures a, tight fit and allows the oprator to .wear the mask over aconsiderable period of time without iscomfort.

I claim:

1. A mask of the class described having,` in a face covering providedwith an extending mouth piece havingan exhaust opening, and beingflexibly connected to said covering and-arranged to carry a'n absorbentelement, means for conducting fresh air vthrough said absorbent elementto the inside of the mask, window in said covering, and

a by-.pass associated with said means having openings for discharging anair current against the innerside. of .the window to dry neeaeeo anymoisture deposit thereomsaid by-pass exhausting in the exhaust openingand being arran ed to aid in exhausting the air from the mas and inmaintaining the e'ective area of the exhaust opening.

2. The combination of a mask comprising, a face covering, a windowtherein, means for conducting air to the inside of the mask anddirecting a current of said air` outwardly away from said window and aby-pass on said means for directing a stream of air-against the insideof the window, with a hood havin a window',VV said hood enveloping themas and arranged with its window in the path of said air current wherebysaid window is kept free from vision obstructing substances.

3. A maskof the class described, adapted to be inserted in a hood havinga window, in combination, a ace'covering provided with an extendingmouth piece, having an exhaust opening, flexibly connected to vsaidcovering and arranged to carry an absorbent element, a window in saidcovering, means for conducting fresh air through said absorbent elementto the inside of the mask, auxiliary 6. A mask of the class describedhaving,

in combination, a face covering provided with Y a substantially tubularextending mouth piece having an exhaust opening and an accordionconnection joiningsaid mouth piece to said covering and an absorbentelement in its end, a pair of windows in said mask above the mouthpiece, a substantially rigid fresh air conduit extendin downwardly onthe outside of said covering between said windows having communicationwith the interior through said absorbent element, and a bypass extendinginto said mask and downwardly between said windows having openings topermit a fresh air current to be directed against the windows tomaintain clear vision, said by-pass terminating in said exhaust vopeningto aid the exhaust of foul air.

ln testimony whereof l ax my signature at 10 South LaSalle Street,Chicago, illinois.

i LIAM E. iA'lTERS.

means associated with said means for discurrent of air outwardly ontothe window in the hood to provide clear vision therethrough.

4. The combination with a mask comprising, a face covering havingwindows, a sub.

stantially rigid conduit on said covering arranged for conducting freshair to the inside of the mask having an outwardly directed opening fordirecting a fan-shaped spray of fresh air away from said windows, aby-pass extending into said mask for directing a fresh air currentagainst the inside of said windows to insure clear vision; with a hoodhaving a window, said hood being arranged over the mask with its windowin the path of the outwardly directed fresh air current whereby saidwindow is maintained free from vision obstructing substances.

5. The combination of a mask comprising, a face covering having meansfor securing it 1 to'thehead of a wearer, a window in said E covering,means mounted on said covering for conducting fresh air to the inside ofthe mask and directing an auxiliaryair current outwardly away from saidwindow, and a bypass in said means for directing a stream of air againstthe inside of said window, with a hood, said hood having a window andbeing arranged over said mask with said window 1n the path of saidauxiliaryair current whereby said window iskept free from visionobstructing substances.

Eli@

rae

